(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Jonathan Mainwaring will not
be appearing in District Court on Thursday for a sentence review hearing.

The hearing has been postponed until April 17th at 1:00pm.

Mainwaring's attorneys requested more time to work out
the details of the sentence review hearing.

Final School Board Filings (Fri,
Mar 29, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The filing deadline has passed for
those interested in filing for school board positions in Valley County.

School Board elections are set for May 7th. Here
are the candidates for the respective school boards in Valley County.
Glasgow
Two-3 year terms available
Eric Grewe
Alec Adolphson
Mark Falcon
Jenny Jennings

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The way northeast Montana is represented
in the Montana Legislature will be significantly changed after the Montana
Districting and Apportionment Commission adopted new lines for legislative
districts in northern and eastern Montana.

Valley County will be split into three different house
districts for the 2004 election. Currently the county is divided into
two house districts and is represented by Jeff Pattison and Karl Waitchies.

With the new districts, the city of Glasgow will be
put into a house district with Dodson, Malta and Saco in Phillips County.
This new house district will also include Hinsdale and Opheim.

Fort Peck residents will be put in a sprawling new district
that will stretch from Hill County all the way to Valley County. Fort
Peck will join the entire Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to make this
legislative district.

Nashua will be in a legislative district that will include
Wolf Point, Poplar and Brockton on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

For a better idea how the area will be split up with
the new redistricting here are the maps and descriptions of the new legislative
lines.

(Press Release) After extensive discussions with Governor
Judy Martz, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced Thursday
that she has signed an order to extend the 2001 statewide Natural Disaster
Determination to include 2002, making low-interest loans and other assistance
available to drought-stricken Montana farmers and ranchers.

"We've worked hard to show that the ongoing drought
is having a critical impact on Montana producers, and we're pleased that
Secretary Veneman has made this determination," Governor Martz says.

Governor Martz and Director Ralph Peck of the Montana
Department of Agriculture met with Veneman during a stop by the Secretary
in Bozeman. Among other topics, the three leaders discussed the Governor's
request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture promptly approve county
requests to allow haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
lands. They also discussed disaster relief provisions in the Farm Bill
currently pending in Congress.

"Although some basins have received more snowfall
than last year, the drought situation in Montana remains critical,"
Governor Martz says.

"At a Montana Drought Advisory Committee meeting
last week, we learned that cattle numbers in the state have declined by
between 250,000 and 400,000 head since early 2001. Many of these reductions
are occurring because ranchers cannot find enough feed, or don't expect
to have enough forage to maintain the size of their herds."

Allowing ranchers to graze animals and harvest hay from
CRP lands would enable them to delay grazing on native grasslands, which
are less susceptible to injury if they can be grazed later in the season,
Peck notes.

Moisture is particularly short in north-central and
central Montana, says Peck. In some basins in central Montana, watershed
managers have reported that irrigators can expect to pay maintenance fees
and electricity-demand changes even though they will receive no irrigation
water this year.

Governor Martz and Director Peck also discussed with
Secretary Veneman the need for continued federal marketing programs to
help producers take advantage of markets overseas.

Secretary Veneman traveled to Bozeman to meet with staff
members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office,
which held regional meetings this week. Governor Martz had previously
met with Secretary Veneman in Washington, D.C. in late February.

Governor Martz and Director Peck have worked with Montana's
congressional delegation on drought issues, and have written letters to
key members of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, who will
decide whether to include disaster assistance provisions in the Farm Bill.
The Senate version of the Farm Bill includes $2.4 billion in natural disaster
assistance nationwide, while the House version contains none. A conference
committee made up of lawmakers from both bodies is meeting to resolve
differences in the bills. The committee has set early April as a target
for a final vote on the measure.

At last week's drought advisory meeting, Lieutenant
Governor Karl Ohs, who chairs the committee, urged county commissioners,
watershed administrators, farmers, ranchers and others to write letters
to the conference members, providing them with detailed information on
the economic impacts of the three-year-long drought.

"Recently, several eastern states also have
begun feeling the effects of a lack moisture," said Governor Martz.
"Lawmakers from those states may be new allies in our efforts to
gain national attention for the problems of drought, and to spur Congress
to act on drought relief."

(AP)The commission in charge of redrawing Montana's
legislative districts has tentatively approved plans, backed by Democrats,
for redrawing borders for Great Falls and northern Montana.

The five-member Districting and Apportionment Commission
adopted the plans on a series of 3-to-2 votes, prompting criticism from
its two Republican members. The plans endorsed yesterday greatly alter
the districts in Great Falls and Cascade County, as well as Glasgow and
Valley and Phillips County. They also create three new House districts
designed to have a majority of Indian voters. The districts would take
effect in 2004 and remain for 10 years.

Yesterday's meeting in Billings is the first time the
panel has voted on actual district borders. It will hold future votes
in May, June and September on the remaining regions of the state.

KLTZ/Mix-93 has obtained links to the redistricting
maps, which you will find below:

(AP) The Montana Highway Patrol says a Phillips County
road grader plowing snow on a narrow, gravel road about ten miles south
of Dodson was going the wrong way when it collided with a northbound Dodson
school bus. Patrol Sergeant Mark Bosch says the southbound grader was
on the wrong side of the road in a low, dense fog and did not have a flashing
beacon, although the headlights were on.

The crash occurred about 7:30 Tuesday morning. Twenty
students, all from southern Phillips County, were treated at the county
hospital in Malta and four of those were later taken to Northern Montana
Hospital in Havre. All of the students were released by last night.

Grader driver 61-year-old Jack Munsinger and 50-year-old
bus driver Don Wilkes were treated and released from the Fort Belknap
Health Center. The bus rolled after hitting the grader, which also rolled
off the other side of the road. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)

(Press Release) The Montana Natural Resource Information
System (NRIS), in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) announces the availability of detailed NRCS soil survey
data on a web site developed by the two groups.

The new website, at http://nris.state.mt.us/nrcs/soils,
provides comprehensive links to data and data tools for people interested
in using the NRCS Soil Survey Geographic and National Soil Information
System data.

Visitors to the website can download mapping, data interpretation and
reporting tools to utilize this detailed information.

"While this information has been gathered for decades,
it was formerly not very accessible to the public. Now, by visiting this
website, private landowners can easily access maps and reports to help
them manage their lands," said Jim Hill, NRIS Director.

Historically, soil survey publications were printed
documents with limited distribution due to costs associated with preparation
and publication. More recently, due to coordinated national efforts, the
NRCS has made significant progress in developing electronic data organization
and access methods to encourage more widespread use of this valuable information.

Soil maps can be used to determine the suitability
and potential of soils in a given location for specific uses and can also
be used to plan the management needed for those uses. The Montana Natural
Resource Information System (NRIS) was established seventeen years ago
by the Legislature. NRIS, a division of the State Library, acts as a clearinghouse
for natural resource information.

For more information about the soil survey website, contact Hill at (406)
444-5355, or Catherine Maynard, NRCS Resource Analyst at (406) 444-4546.

Two Walk Away From Plane Crash
(Wed, Mar 27, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Two men walked away from a fiery
airplane crash in northern McCone County Monday morning according to the
National Transportation Safety Board.

A Glasgow man and a man from Glendive were hunting coyotes
Monday morning when a shotgun malfunctioned in the airplane and dishcharged
an unknown number of times into the right wing of the aircraft. The shots
caused enough damage that the aircraft became uncontrollable and the pilot
was forced to crash land.

The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the accident
but have said the crash was not pilot error.

The aircraft burned completely but the NTSB is not sure
whether the plane caught fire in the air or on the ground.

Both men were taken to the hospital in Glasgow with
minor injuries.

Glasgow
Man To Appear At Sentence Review Hearing (Tue, Mar 26, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Jonathon Mainwaring will be appearing
in State District Court on Friday for a sentence review hearing.

Mainwaring currently is incarcerated at the Montana
State Prison in Deer Lodge serving a sentence on the conviction of mitigated
deliberate homicide in the beating death of Glasgow resident Randy DeTienne.

His attorneys have requested the sentence review because
it is their belief that Mainwaring has completed all of the treatment
plans and programming conditions imposed by the sentence. According to
the court documents, Mainwaring has also maintained clear conduct while
incarcerated at the Montana State Prison.

Mainwaring was sentenced in April of 2000 to 30 years
with the Montana Department of Corrections with 20 of those years suspended.
Judge John McKeon had also made a strong recommendation that Mainwaring
not be placed in the state prison.

In October of 2001 at a parole hearing the Montana Board
of Pardons and Parole recommended that Mainwaring be placed in a pre-release
center. But again the Department of Corrections disagreed with that recommendation
and continued to incarcerate Mainwaring at Deer Lodge.

Mainwaring has been incarcerated at the Montana State
Prison since October of 2000.

The sentence review hearing is set for 10am on Friday
in the courtroom of the Valley County Courthouse.

Governor Issues Letters: Amtrak
Service Vital To Montanas Economy

(Press Release) Recently, Amtrak announced that the
company would be cutting baggage check and shipping services on its Empire
Builder Route in East Glacier and Wolf Point. As a vital connection to
many points along the Hi-Line, Northern Montana and beyond, this decision
will have a profound effect not only on the local economies of these two
cities but across the state as well.

I have recently written to Mr. George Warrington, President
of Amtrak, urging the company to reconsider this decision. In my letter
I noted that In an already depressed area of the country, Amtrak
is cutting part of the life line to the rest of the world.
Many residents in these two Montana cities derive their business, leisure
and social interaction from the benefits that Amtrak provides, and this
deals a serious blow to a part of Montana that is already suffering.

Small and large businesses alike will, and have already
begun to feel, the affects that this reduced service has caused. Entire
communities feel the effects if these cutbacks and economic development
is stagnate.

In a letter to Montanas congressional delegation,
I encouraged Senator Burns, Senator Baucus and Congressman Rehberg to
work with Amtrak to find a better solution. You are well aware of
the difficulty and economic hardship that this will cause our residents
of Northern Montana, and the effect on Glacier Park tourism by eliminating
service to Whitefish and East Glacier. This could mean a loss of over
$8.6 million to Montana in Amtrak employee salaries and tourism along.
This does not take into account other business and personal traffic that
is conducted on this route by and for Montanans.

Efficient and timely transportation of goods and services
is vital to economic development. The elimination of services by Amtrak
will cause tremendous strain on the State of Montanas efforts to
assist communities in their local economic development initiatives, and
I urge Amtrak - working with Montanas congressional delegation -
to reconsider this decision.

It is with great dismay that I learned of Amtraks
intentions of cutting baggage check and shipping service on its Empire
Builder Route in East Glacier and Wolf Point, Montana. In an already depressed
area of the country, Amtrak is cutting part of a life line
to the rest of the world.

Many residents in these two Montana cities derive their business, leisure,
and social interaction
from the benefits that Amtrak provides, and this deals a serious blow
to a part of Montana that is already suffering.

I strongly urge that you reassess your decision to cut service to these
cities. Please feel free to contact me or my staff if you have any questions,
or if you would like to discuss this further.
Sincerely,

JUDY MARTZ Governor
Montana Congressional DelegationMarch 7, 2002
The Honorable Dennis Rehberg
U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Conrad Burns United States Senate
The Honorable Max Baucus United States Senate

Dear Max, Conrad, and Denny:
The recent announcement of the Administration budget contains less than
the $1.2 billion needed for Amtrak next year. Because of this, Amtrak
says that they will be forced to eliminate many long routes, possibly
including the last interstate rail service along the Hi-Line in Montana
known as the Empire Builder.

You are well aware of the difficulty and economic hardship that this will
cause our residents of Northern Montana, and the effect on Glacier Park
tourism by eliminating service to Whitefish and East Glacier. This could
mean a loss of over $8.6 million to Montana in Amtrak employee salaries
and tourism alone. This does not take into account other business and
personal traffic that is conducted on this route by and for Montanans.

Because of this, I am asking that you work to ensure that the Amtrak route
across Northern Montana is not eliminated, and that service is continued.
If you have any questions, please contact my office.

(AP) In north-central Montana a Dodson school bus went
in the ditch, overturned and its engine caught fire this morning. This
was after the bus swerved, trying to avoid colliding with a road grader
that was plowing snow.

A Highway Patrol officer says the two did collide, and
the grader also went in the ditch, on the opposite side of the road. It
happened about 7:40 this morning on a gravel road south of Dodson.

Twenty-one children were on the bus, heading to school
at Dodson. All 21 were taken to a Malta hospital, but Dodson School Superintendent
Dollyann Willcutt says none of the injuries appear to be serious. The
bus driver and the grader operator were also taken to the hospital for
observation.

Students on the bus ranged in age from elementary through
high school. Willcutt says older children helped younger kids get out
of the bus. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Auditions
Open For Movie That Will Be Filmed Partly in Glasgow (Tue, Mar 26, 2002)

(AP) If you want your kid to be in the movies, here's
an opportunity.

There's a casting call to play a leading role in a movie
that will be filmed in Great Falls and surrounding areas. Called "North
Fork," it's a story set in Montana in the 1950's. A Bozeman casting director
-- Tina Buckingham -- is looking for a boy or twins, ages seven to ten,
for the movie.

Auditions for the part of the orphan boy will be held
Wednesday in Great Falls. To set up an appointment, call Tina at 586-9758.
Filming in Great Falls and Glasgow is scheduled for the end of April.
(Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Amtrak has 12 stations across Montana's northern tier,
and the state Transportation Deparment says tey had fewer than 118,000
boardings and de-boardings in 2001. That was down 13 percent from the
previous year and is the lowest annual figure since 1997. Seven stations
hit five-year lows.

Amtrak said in February that it would eliminate 18 long-distance
routes - including the Empire Builder - unless Congress provides 1.2 billion
dollars for fiscal 2003.

Meanwhile, a group is coordinating a fight to save Amtrak
passenger service in North Dakota.

Two years ago, Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford
put together a group to keep Amtrak from rerouting its Empire Builder
passenger train around northeastern North Dakota because of flooding.
Officials got together enough money and interest to keep the track open.

Belford is making a similar effort now, to keep Amtrak
from closing down the Empire Builder. He says he hopes to get other states
involved. He plans to collect resolutions from communities around the
state and forward them to the governor's office and to Congress. (Copyright
2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AFL-CIO Releases Their Legislative
Report (Fri, Mar 22, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Montana AFL-CIO has released
their final report on the 2001 Legislative Session.

After every legislative session the union prepares a
scorecard on how every legislator voted on certain issues in that legislative
session.

Here are their rankings for legislators from Valley
County:
State Senator Sam Kitzenberg- 70%
State RepresentativeJeff Pattison- 9%
State Representative Karl Waitsches- 9%

Amtrak says it has resumed the service on a case-by-case
basis, after pressure from Hi-Line businesses, shippers and Senator Max
Baucus.

Flower shops in Malta, Glasgow and Wolf Point rely
on the Empire Builder for a daily supply of fresh flowers. Since deliveries
were suspended, many businesses have had to drive long distances each
day to resupply.

However, the long-term future of the rail line is still
uncertain. Amtrak says it will abandon the line on October First, unless
it receives one billion dollars of federal money for its budget. Amtrak
says official notices will be posted at Hi-Line stations next week, six
months before the service may close. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP)The next job for a new Missouri River group is to
get federal funding to alleviate sedimentation along the river. About
ten million dollars a year for five years has been authorized for South
Dakota to improve the river.

But Howard Paul of the Missouri River Sedimentation
Action Coalition says there's a big difference between authorization and
appropriation. He says the coalition needs a full-time staff person who
could lobby on the federal level.

Paul says the group needs to persuade Congress that
sedimentation is a problem. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)

Final
Filings For Primary Election (Thu, Mar 21, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Thursday was the deadline for filing
for political office in Valley County. There will be several contested
races in the June 4th primary election along with some interesting races
shaping up for the November General Election.

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The filing deadline is approaching
for school board elections throughout Valley County.

The Glasgow School District has three openings
on the board and three candidates. Alec Adolphson and Mark Falcon have
filed for the two-3 year terms available and Mike Dailey has filed for
a 1-year term.

The Nashua School District has two-3 year terms open and as of Thursday
Mark Bengochea was the only candidate to file. Bengochea is an incumbent
on the board.

Hinsdale has two-3 year terms available and Joe See and Sharon Swanson
have filed for those seats on the school board in Hinsdale.

In Opheim there are two-3 year terms open and the two incumbents have
both filed for re-election, Alice Redfield and Tim Stenglein.

In the Frazer School District there are two candidates for the one-2 year
term available, Rita Talks Different and Rosalie Smoker. There are two-3
year terms available and the two candidates are Jewel Fourstar and Phillip
Fourstar.

The filing deadline is Thursday, March 28th.

Education Report Card On Legislature
Released (Thu, Mar 21, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ ) The Montana Education Association
and the Montana Federation of Teachers have released their report card
from the 2001 Montana Legislature.

The report analyzes the votes of all 150 legislators
on education issues from the last legislative session.

Republican State Senator Sam Kitzenberg received a 100%
ranking from the MEA/MFT for his votes on education issues. Kitzenberg
is one 8 Senators to receive a perfect rating from the teachers group.
Kitzenberg is a member of the MEA/MFT and teaches at the Glasgow High
School.

The other members of the local legislative delegation
didn't fare as well in the rankings from the teachers union.

State Representative Karl Waitschies a Republican from
Peerless received a 19% score from the group while Representative Jeff
Pattison received a 10% score. Only one other legislator received a lower
score than Pattison.

Low Water Postpones Fort Peck
Dam Test (Thu, Mar 21, 2002)

(AP) For the second year in a row, low water is causing
postponement of a test to measure combined flows of the powerhouses and
spillways at Fort Peck Dam. The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the snowpack's
unlikely to provide the runoff needed to raise Fort Peck Lake high enough
for the testing.

The tests are part of a U-S Fish and Wildlife
Service proposal to modify water levels on the entire Missouri River.
The service says the change is needed to help three endangered species.
They are the least tern and the piping plover, both shore birds, and a
fish, the pallid sturgeon. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All
Rights Reserved.)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Valley County Commissioners have
passed a resolution that will put a ballot measure on the June 4th primary
election ballot which would provide funding for economic development in
Valley County.

The Two Rivers Growth Econonomic Development compiled
250 signatures of Valley County voters indicating their desire for this
mill levy election.

If passed by the voters of Valley County this measure
would provide for $52,390 for economic development. The commissioners
would then contract out with a development group to conduct the legwork
on economic development.

This measure will affect all voters in Valley
County and if passed would go on your November tax statements.

Long Run Fire Department
Responds To Frazer Fire (Wed, Mar 20, 2002)

(Tip from Mike Boyer) Long Run Fire Department was called
to a fire in Frazer Tuesday around 11:00am.

A shop building was completely destroyed but no injuries
were reported. The building was located on the corner on Main Street in
Frazer.

The Frazer Fire Department responded with one truck
and 3 firefighters, and Long Run responded with 2 trucks and 4 firefighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Border Patrol To Be Reinforced
(Wed, Mar 20, 2002)

(AP) The U-S Border Patrol says the Spokane sector --
which includes northwestern Montana -- will have 40 additional agents
by the end of September. Nine of the new agents will be assigned to the
Border Patrol station at Eureka. The Eureka and Whitefish Border Patrol
stations patrol about 90 miles of international border, from the Idaho
state line to the Continental Divide.

Congress has authorized an additional 245 agents along
the U-S-Canadian border. Agents will be drawn from elsewhere in the United
States to fill the 40 positions in the Spokane sector.

The Border Patrol says it's hiring about two-thousand
new agents this year. All new agents begin on the U-S border with Mexico.
As they gain experience, they have the opportunity to bid for positions
throughout the United States. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)

(FSA Press Release) The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program (NAP) was published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2002.
This will close the sign up for application of coverage for all crops
for 2002 in 30 days. The deadline is April 18, 2002.

NAP is an ongoing program that provides financial assistance
to producers for non insurable crop losses and prevented planting as a
result of natural disasters.

The Farm Service Agency will be taking NAP applications
for the 2002 crop year for perennial, annual and fall seeded crops until
April 18, 2002. Eligible acreage for NAP would include crops for which
catastrophic federal crop insurance is not available. Examples of NAP
crops would include grasses, winter rye and annually seeded crops such
as barley hay, oats hay and mustard.

Effective for the 2002 and succeeding crop years, the
exclusion of unseeded forage on State and Federal Lands as an eligible
crop has been removed.

NAP assistance will be provided to individual producers
without any requirement of an area loss. A service fee of $100 per crop
will be required, not to exceed $300 per county to be eligible for payment.

Production for the 2001 crop year for eligible acreage
must be reported by July 15, 2002, to be eligible for payment. This applies
especially to producers who have applications on file or plan to apply
for the 2002 crop year NAP program.

If you have any questions, please contact the Valley
County Farm Service Agency at 228-4321.

Sheriff's Department Arrests
4 (Tue, Mar 19, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Valley County Sheriffs Department
is reporting that on March 12, at approximately 9:00pm, a traffic stop
of two vehicles, one in Glasgow on Highway 2 East, the other approximately,
one mile west of Glasgow, resulted in the seizure of two vehicles, currency
, and suspected illegal narcotics.

The incident resulted in the arrest of four individuals.
Arrested were:

39 year old Jack Coversup of Harlem, Montana. Coversup
was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Liability Insurance;
Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a misdemeanor; Criminal Possession
of drug Paraphernalia, a misdemeanor; Criminal Possession of dangerous drugs;
a felony; Criminal Possession of dangerous Drugs with intent to distribute,
a felony; and carrying a switch blade knife, a misdemeanor.

35 year old Theresa Walker of Harlem, Montana. Walker
was charged with Criminal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a misdemeanor;
Criminal Possession of dangerous Drugs, a felony; Criminal Possession
of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Distribute, a felony.

62 year old Newton Cantrell of Wolf Point, Montana.
Newton Cantrell was charged with Conspiracy to Possession of Dangerous
Drugs With Intent to Distribute.

56 year old Donna Cantrell of Poplar, Montana. Donna
Cantrell was charged with Conspiracy to Possession of Dangerous Drugs
With Intent to Distribute.

The investigation was conducted by the Valley County
Sheriff's Office and the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force with assistance
from several other law enforcement entities in northeast Montana.

Hatchery Groundbreaking Set
For July 6th (Tue, Mar 19, 2002)

(Stan Ozark,KLTZ) The groundbreaking date has been set
for the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery. The United States Army Corps
of Engineers told Kltz/Klan that July 6th at 2pm the groundbreaking ceremony
will take place.

Montana's entire congressional delegation has committed
to attend including Senator Max Baucus, Senator Conrad Burns and Congressman
Denny Rehberg. Other dignitaries that will be asked to speak include Governor
Martz, the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
and State Senator Sam Kitzenberg.

The $20 million dollar hatchery was authorized by the
2001 Montana Legislature and is being funded by the federal government.

The hatchery is scheduled to be completed in 2005 and
survey work has already been completed on the site of the hatchery next
to the dredge cuts at Fort Peck Lake.

Fort Peck Reservoir Under New
Management Plan (Mon, Mar 18, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Fort Peck Reservoir has a new and
more aggressive fisheries management plan in place to guide Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks over the next 10 years.

Personnel from the department have worked a year and a half putting the
plan together. This involved meetings, public input, writing and rewriting
before the final plan was signed by the department director last month.

The new plan focuses on walleye, with the majority of
the public requesting that this species be the primary management objective.

Rather than the current minimum of 1.5 million walleye
fingerling stocked annually, the minimum number would increase to 2 million
until the new Fort Peck Fish Hatchery is on line in 2005. Bill Wiedenheft
the regional fisheries manager in Glasgow told Kltz/Klan that FWP will
go out of state to find more walleye fingerlings until the new hatchery
is ready to produce. The current hatchery system can produce only 2 million
fingerlings so the department will have to rely on North Dakota and South
Dakota for additional walleye fingerlings.

Wiedenheft did say though that to make sure the lake
isn't overstocked with walleye, biologists plan to continue to monitor
the overall size of the fish and their condition.

Local anglers recently have been upset over the poor
fishing conditions at Fort Peck and have complained that the department
isn't doing enough to stock the lake with walleye. The local Walleye's
Unlimited Chapter released catch rates for several walleye tournaments
this past year that show anglers catching only one walleye every 14 hours
in one tournament while another tournament showed a walleye being caught
every 13 hours.

This new management plan calls for working toward a
catch rate of 0.5 walleyes per man/hour of fishing for walleyes caught.

The new management plan also calls for annual public
updates on the status of the Fort Peck fishery. That public meeting is
scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, at the Vets Club in
Glasgow.

No Injuries Reported In House
Fire (Mon, Mar 18, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Glasgow Fire Department responded
to a house fire Monday morning at 4am. According to Fire Chief Ed Stein
2 trucks responded to the fire on 3rd Avenue South at a home owned by
Gary Diesen.

Stein told Kltz/Klan that the cause of the fire was
electrical and the ensuing fire damaged most of the basement and came
very close to moving to the upstairs portion of the home. He also said
there was plenty of smoke damage to the home.

There were no injuries reported and the Fire Department
had the trucks back at the fire hall at 7am.

Governor Martz To Hold Capital
For a Day in Circle (Mon, Mar 18, 2002)

(State of Montana Press Release) Governor Judy Martz
has announced that her seventh Capital For a Day will be held in Circle
on March 20, 2002. As a part of this event, Governor Martz will proclaim
Circle as the Official Capital for the State of Montana.

We are excited about traveling to McCone County
to address local ideas, issues and concerns, said Governor Martz,
We have an incredible opportunity in this state to bring government
to individual communities. This not only helps the residents of Circle,
but it also helps us to gain information about local community issues.
This is especially true when we travel to Eastern Montana.

As a part of the days activities, the Governor
will travel to the local school, and will meet with area businesses.
Lieutenant Governor Ohs and members of the Governors cabinet will
also participate in the program throughout the day, so that constituents
who have concerns or issues to raise with regard to a particular agency
will have time to discuss their problems one-on-one.

We have been pleased with the success of this
event in our past sites of Laurel, Hamilton, Sidney, Havre, Roundup, and
Townsend, Governor Martz said. Montana is such a diverse state,
and we need to understand the impacts of the decisions we make in Helena
at every level and in every community.

The public is encouraged to participate in Circles
Capital For a Day activities.

Schedule AttachedTentative Schedule
Circle Capitol For a Day
March 20, 2002
10:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening
Coffee and donuts with the public at Schmidts Banquet Room

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Former Frazer teacher Shane Kennedy
made his initial appearance in District Court today on charges of felony
theft and felony forgery.

Kennedy appeared without an attorney and told Judge
John McKeon that he had no money to hire one. McKeon appointed a public
defender to represent Kennedy.

Kennedy is being charged with the theft of over $15,000
in funds from the Frazer High School Extracurricular/Activity over a period
ranging from October of 2000 to January of 2002.

He resigned from his teaching job in January and has
admitted to the crimes. Kennedy told Kltz/Klan that he plans to plead
guilty when he next appears in court on March 29th.

Kennedy was released on his own recognizance and will
continue to live in Wolf Point where he works for Will's Office World.

County Auctions Off Land (Sat,
Mar 16, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Valley County auctioned some of its
grazing land in the lobby ofthe courthouse Wednesday morning. Six parces
were sold, all on a single bid of the minimum price, to the ranchers whohad
been leasing the land from the county.

The commissioners have made it a policy to get out of
the land owning business and plan to have all county owned land sold in
the next 10 years.

A total of 1,980 acres of land were sold for $86,065,
which averages to a price of $43.48 per acre.

School Retirements; Levy Elections
Announced (Sat, Mar 16, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Glasgow School Board met in regular
session on March 13th and accepted the retirements of three long-time
educators.

Irle School Principal Dennis Idler along with Middle
School teacher Charlie Plant and 5th grade teacher Curt Brayko have all
accepted the retirement incentive package offered by the school district.
Idler will be retiring after 37 years, Plant with 39 and Brayko with 25
years.

The school board also passed resolutions which will
have the school district put two levy elections on the May 7th ballot.
The board will be asking district voters to pass a $68,000 technology
depreciation levy along with a $39,000 general fund levy.

The Glasgow school enrollment will be down 47 students
next year which means a funding shortfall of $250,083. If the district
voters pass the two levys the board will find it easier to balance the
school budget next year. At Wednesday's meeting the board discussed using
some of the general fund levy funds for infrastructure improvements at
the three school buildings.

Hatchery Groundbreaking Ceremony
Date Set (Fri, Mar 15, 2002)

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The groundbreaking date has been
set for the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery. According to the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the groundbreaking will occur at 2p.m. on Saturday,
July 6th.

We'll have more to report on this story next week.

Green Starts Early At Irle
School (Fri, Mar 15, 2002)

(Tim Phillips, KLTZ) At Irle School in Glasgow
this past week, students were encouraged to read as much as they
could. For every 5 minutes of reading, students would receive a
segment: of an extremely long green reading worm!

The goal was to have the worm (part of which is
pictured above Mr. Idler) reach from Mrs. Pehlke's kindergarten
room down the halls to the lunch room. If students could do that,
then Mr. Idler offered to die his hair green.

The kids put in extra effort and surpassed the
goal easily; Mr. Idler not only died his hair green, he had a green
mustache too! (Unless they had green milk for lunch on Friday.)

Click on the picture to the left for a larger
view.

Dennis Idler,
principal at Irle School, celebating the end of Reading Week and the
beginning of St. Patty's Day weekend.

Former Frazer Teacher Charged
With Theft (Thu, Mar 14, 2002)
(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) Former Frazer High School teacher Shane Kennedy has been
charged with felony theft and felony forgery for his role in embezzling
an estimated $15,000 from the Frazer schools district.

Kennedy, who was the manager of the Extracurricular/Activity
fund account is charged with failing to deposit funds into the account
and for using those funds for his own purpose. He is also charged with
altering two checks belonging to the school by naming himself as payee.

According to court documents Kennedy admitted to the
Frazer School Board Chairman on January 9, 2002 that he had taken $13,000
from the activity fund. He had been in charge of the fund since January
of 2000. Kennedy also admitted to taking approximately $4,000 in receipts
from the pop machine fund which were intended for the Student Council.

He has admitted to a gambling problem and stated that
as the reason for the embezzlement.

Kennedy resigned from his teaching position in January
of 2002.

He makes his initial appearance in District Court on
March 18th. If convicted of both charges Kennedy could face up to 30 years
in prison and a fine of $100,000.

Long Run To Host Firefighting
Course (Thu, Mar 14, 2002)

(Press Release) The Valley County Long Run Fire Department
will host the second of two wildland firefighting courses presented by
the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation this weekend
at the Long-Run Fire Hall in Glasgow.

The two-day Intermediate Wildland class will be held
on Saturday and Sunday, March 16th and 17th.

The class is open to all area firefighters who have
completed the prerequisite Basic Wildland Class. The Intermediate course
stresses firefighter safety and rural fire scene management.

Spelling Bee Winners Announced
(Thu, Mar 14, 2002)

(Press Release) A total of 49 kids competed in the Valley
County Spelling Bee held Tuesday in Opheim. The winners included Jesse
Lawson of Glasgow (8th grade, 1st place), John Big Leggins of Frazer (8th
grade, 2nd place), Mark Molvig of Glasgow (8th grade, 3rd place). Jesse
will now go on to the State Spelling Bee in Billings on April 6th.

Native American Census Stats
Released (Wed, Mar 13, 2002)

(Helena-AP) The American Indian population in Montana
is much younger than the rest of the state, less prone to be married and
live in larger households that are more likely to be headed by a single
parent.

That's the latest word from the U-S Census Bureau. Experts
say the Indian emphasis on children and dependence on relatives produce
the bigger households, but poverty on Montana's reservations tear marriages
apart. Richard Sattler, who teaches Native American

Studies at the University of Montana say poverty underlies
many of the statistics. A state welfare official says Indians make up
just seven percent of Montana's population, but they represent 42 percent
of the state's welfare cases.

Walter Fleming, who teaches Native American studies
at Montana State University-Bozeman, says single-parent households among
Indians are not the same as among non-Indians. He says Indians have a
strong support system created by extended families, and children may be
considered members of three or four households. (Copyright 2002 Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed.)

(Helena-AP) Three state senators who want a special
legislative session to fix funding shortages in the state health department
have promised to vote against any tax increase if other legislators will
endorse the special session.

The pledge came this weekend in a letter from Senators
John Cobb of Augusta, a Republican; and two Democrats, Mignon Waterman
of Helena, and Mike Halligan of Missoula. They said all they want from
the special session is four-point-one million dollars in state money,
plus a transfer of one-point-nine million in federal funds. They say that's
how much is needed to keep health care, child support enforcement and
welfare programs operating at their current level.

The state Department of Public Health and Human Services
has been hit with a series of unexpected cost increases and budget shortfalls
since the 2001 Legislature adjourned.

If the Legislature is to call itself into a special
session, 76 members - one more than half of the 150 - must vote in favor.
So far, 31 have voted in favor, and 42 - all Republicans - have Bohlinger
of Billings and Sam
Kitzenberg of Glasgow - have joined 28 Democrats in voting in favor.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

A & S
Tribal Industries Announces Expansion (Wed, Mar 13, 2002)

(Press Release) The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes announced
today a major expansion of their tribal owned metal fabrication plant
by purchasing almost $500,000.00 in new equipment that will enable the
company to manufacture component parts for the public and private sectors.

"This is a huge deal for us," said Leonard
J. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the company. "Purchasing and
installing the CNC Lathe and CNC Mill equipment enables us to diversify
our capabilities into machining metal components." Smith said with
the new capabilities and competitive machining rates they can maximize
the use of the new equipment 24 hours a day. "We are located in a
HUB Zone, providing us with government set-aside opportunities as well
as a huge private sector market," said Smith.

The expansion is welcome news on the Fort Peck Reservation
where unemployment averages 50 percent. "Without local and national
corporations working with us, we would not have been able to leverage
the federal funds to buy the equipment," continued Smith. "Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Foundation, Valley Electric Cooperative, Nemont Telephone
Cooperative and MDU Resources Foundation awarded us private sector matching
funds that secured over $400,000.00 in U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic
Development Administration funding."

Richard A. Russack, President of the Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Foundation, said he is pleased about the new business possibilities
for the Fort Peck Reservation. "We are always interested in ways
we can help jump start rural-based economies" said Russack. "Our
railroad moves goods for customers in and out of northeastern Montana
and we are supportive of business development that will create good paying
jobs for people living in those communities."

John Rogers, Montana director for the U.S. Department
of Commerce, Economic Development Administration said the program used
by the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes is available to all businesses in
the state. "The bottom line with these funds is that they are used
to create new jobs in Montana and industry must be an active partner in
contributing non-federal funds toward the project. We have worked with
the Tribes in supporting business, lending and industrial projects across
the state and our commitment is stronger than ever."

A&S Tribal Industries employed approximately 140
workers during the past year. "The catalyst for this expansion was
the willingness of government and industry to come together to benefit
a rural economy, said Smith, "and without that cooperation this project
would have been much harder to achieve."

(FWP Press Release)
WILDLIFE DIVISONGlasgow
The Status of Sage Grouse in Region 6
Several members of Montanas 25 member Sage Grouse Technical Committee
(SGTC) have expressed concern about the status of sage grouse in our state.
Six comments were received during three Region 6 Hearings (Havre, Malta
& Glasgow) held in January to gather public input on the 2002 tentative
seasons. Two people were in favor of restricting the sage grouse bag limit,
two people were in favor of further restricting the sage grouse season,
one wanted to leave the bag limit as is and one did not want the current
season changed. It was apparent the concern of most SGTC and hearing respondents
were the petitions to list sage grouse as threatened and endangered (T&E),
not the health of sage grouse populations in Montana. The fear was the
impact a T&E listing would have on public grazing privileges and private
property rights. They wanted to further restrict hunting to placate the
petitioning interests, and to show the US Fish & Wildlife Service
that something was being done.

Sage grouse are not threatened or endangered in Region
6. Sage grouse have been surveyed in spring on 10 leks on the Brazil Creek
Block Survey Area in south Valley County since 1989. Total numbers of
males counted in spring 2001 were the highest ever (280) during this 13-year
period, and were 33 % above the long-term average (210).

In the past three years an intensive campaign has been
undertaken to locate all sage grouse leks in Region 6. This effort has
involved all regional enforcement and wildlife field people. Bureau of
Land Management, Department of Natural Resources & Conservation and
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation personnel also assisted. About 50 % of
the sage grouse habitat has been searched. A total of 128 leks averaging
29 males each have been located in McCone, Valley, Phillips and Blaine
Counties.

Studies have indicated for every breeding male on leks
two females will be nesting. In Montana, nest success runs about 65 %
and brood sizes average 2.5 chicks by the end of August. These figure
were applied to the total of 3,658 sage grouse males observed on the 128
leks in spring 2001. In August 2001, an estimate of 22,865 sage grouse
were on the ground in the area surveyed. Only half the sage grouse habitat
in Region 6 has been searched for leks. Figures from the Belknap Indian
Reservation indicate 414 males on 12 leks, and an additional 2,562 sage
grouse in the fall population.

Harvest surveys for 1996  2000 indicate an average
of 1,735 sage grouse harvested annually in Region 6. This amounts to 8
% of the estimated sage grouse population of 22,865, and only 15 % of
the 11,891 young-of-the-year. Once again, only half the regional sage
grouse habitat has been searched.

A sage grouse research project was started in south
Phillips County in 2001. A total of 65 breeding hens were fitted with
radio transmitters. These birds were relocated following the 2001 sage
grouse season. As a result of drought conditions brood survival in Phillips
County was poor. In spite of the scarcity of young birds, hunters took
only two of the radioed hens.

That represents a harvest rate of only 3 %. Incidentally,
predators took none of the radioed hens in 2001.

Sage grouse populations are healthy and productive in
Region 6, and the impact of hunting is minimal.

Statewide Sage Grouse PerspectiveIn 1996 the Fish, Wildlife
and Parks Commission responded to public concern for what was perceived
as diminishing sage grouse populations. The Commission decreased the season
length from 106 days to 62 days, the bag limit from 4 birds to 2 birds
per day, and the possession limit from 4 times the daily bag to 3 times
the daily bag. This action was taken to serve as an indication that the
Commission did hear the concerns of the public and was willing to restrict
hunting even though the states sage grouse population had been expanding
since 1994.

Statewide the population continued to expand through
the spring of 2001 similar to what is reported for Region 6 above. In
response to expanding populations the Commission increased the bag limit
to 3 birds per day, but reduced the possession limit to 2 times the daily
bag. The possession limit was decreased to prevent hunters from stockpiling
birds.
Statewide hunter harvest has leveled out at approximately 8,000 birds
per year, which is believed to be less than 10 % of the fall population.
The Wildlife Division believes that hunting has a low impact on sage grouse
given the size of the population and its distribution across Montana.

Biologically, the current season is very conservative
and does not pose a threat to the viability of the states sage grouse
population. Mule Deer Population Trends in Region 6Overall, mule deer
numbers in Region 6 in 2001 rebounded considerably from the lows observed
in the mid-1990s. Aerial counts done in late winter/early spring
on 11 survey areas indicated that numbers were still slightly below average,
but were much higher than lows seen in 1998.

Total numbers of mule deer observed in 2001 were similar
to those observed in 2000. For all eleven survey areas combined, the total
number of mule deer observed in 2001 (2,241) was slightly lower than in
2000 (2,286), and was only 10 % below the long-term average of 2,503.
This was in spite of the fact that survey conditions were poor in the
spring of 2001. The total number of mule deer observed in 2001 was 88
% above the 1,189 observed in 1998.

Fawn/adult ratios were good in 2001 with an average
of 54/100 for all survey areas combined. Seven areas had ratios above
60/100, and none were below 30/100. Fawn recruitment into the population
has been high now for four years running.

The number of mule deer bucks in the population across
Region 6 has also been increasing. High numbers of bucks were observed
in the population during aerial surveys in December & January following
the 2000 hunting season. The average number of bucks per 100 does after
the 2000 season ranged from 23 in the western part of the region to 32
in the east.

Overall, bucks per 100 does averaged 28 regionwide following
the 2000 season. The 2001 post-season surveys indicate similar results,
but survey conditions were poor due to a lack of snow cover and persistent
high winds.

In 2001 the number of mule deer checked at the Havre
Check Station increased 22 % over the number checked in 2000.

There was a perception among hunters from some parts
of Region 6 that there were fewer older bucks available during the 2001
season. The age distribution of bucks checked indicates otherwise. Eighty-one
percent of all mule deer checked were antlered bucks. In 2001, 54 % of
the antlered bucks checked were 3 years old and older (46 % in 2000),
and 25 % were 4 years old and older (21 % in 2000). Typically, antlers
with 4 points and a brow tine on each side are characteristic of bucks
3 years old and older. In 2001, 3 year old and older bucks exhibited antlers
with fewer than the typical number of points, were less heavy in mass
and had shorter main beams. This was the result of drought conditions
in many parts of Region 6, and the lack of good, green nutritious forage.
Under these conditions, the last thing that receives nutrition during
the growing season is the antlers. Physiologically, a buck builds body
condition before he produces large antlers.
It appears that mule deer numbers across Region 6 are much improved from
the lows of the recent past, and continue to trend upward. The outlook
in the eastern end of the region is good with average moisture (forage)
conditions and no winter so far. It is likely mule deer numbers will continue
to increase barring any extremely harsh winter conditions. It remains
to be seen what effect the drought in the western end of the region this
past summer will have on mule deer numbers. Deer in drought areas likely
entered the winter in poorer than normal condition. Anything approaching
a normal or severe winter could result in poor mule deer condition and
reduced recruitment of fawns into the population. Spring surveys in April
will tell the story.

Culbertson
White-tailed Deer Population Status in Region 6, Midwinter 2002
White-tailed deer populations in Region 6 are running the gamut from low
to high depending on the area. On the Milk River bottom from Havre to
Saco, whitetail numbers were reduced substantially from last year due
to an outbreak of EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease). Biologists in Havre
and Malta estimate whitetail mortality rates of 50-65% in some areas.
An aerial survey done on the Milk River bottom in December 2001 between
Malta and Dodson showed whitetails to be down approximately 65%. In northern
Phillips and Blaine counties, however, the disease did not as severely
impact white-tailed deer populations. This may be because EHD is more
prevalent in river bottom areas where the biting flies and gnats that
spread the virus are more abundant.

In the central portion of the Region whitetails are
doing very well. Whitetails in the Milk River bottom in the Glasgow area
appear to be slightly above average. A survey done between Hinsdale and
Glasgow counted 1,134 whitetails, which was the highest number counted
since 1996, and just above the average of 1,084. Although there was some
EHD mortality in the Glasgow area, it doesnt seem to have seriously
affected overall whitetail numbers.

In the far northeast corner of the Region, whitetails
are still substantially below average, but have rebounded considerably
from the very low numbers seen after last winter. Surveys in the Froid-Medicine
Lake-Dagmar area showed whitetail numbers to be 22% above last year. However,
numbers are still 32% below the long-term average. In the Redstone-Whitetail
area numbers are 50% below last year, but 2001 was the highest number
counted on record (22 years). Numbers are only slightly below the long-term
average. This is a wintering ground, and it is likely that whitetails
were not concentrated on the survey area this year because of the extremely
mild, open winter. It is also possible that last years record high
count may have been due to whitetails moving into the area from the east,
which was buried under an early November snow and ice storm.

Malta
Change in Missouri River Breaks Elk Hunting District Boundaries
Elk hunters will notice that HDs 621 and 623 have been combined into one
HD (621) in the 2002 Big Game Regulations this year. This change was recommended
to the FWP Commission by biologists and was supported by the majority
of public comment collected during season setting meetings this winter.

Prior to 1981, this area was all HD 621, but it was
split apart in an attempt to micromanage elk in this area based on herd
units. At the time this HD was split apart, biologists estimated that
there were only 300 elk in this area. Last winter, 1402 elk were counted
during the total coverage elk population survey in HDs 621 and 623. It
is also obvious that groups of elk are constantly moving back and forth
across the boundary between HD 621 and 623.

For years archery hunters have enjoyed the option to
hunt elk in both HDs 621 and 623 and now rifle hunters will have the same
opportunity. The goal of combining these HDs back into one unit is to
provide elk rifle hunters with more opportunities to harvest elk, potentially
increase elk rifle hunter success, make hunting regulations less confusing,
and allow for more stable elk rifle permit quotas in this area. Since
there is an abundance of secure elk hiding cover throughout this HD, it
is very unlikely that elk will concentrate in any specific area. It is
also evident that hunters will disperse throughout a HD to avoid competition
with other hunters and go where the elk are.

Havre
Bighorn Sheep Trapping
Twenty bighorn sheep were captured in the Missouri River Breaks south
of Chinook in HD 680 for release into the Hells Canyon on February 12.
For several years biologists in Idaho and Oregon had been requesting Missouri
River Breaks sheep for transplant into Hells Canyon, which borders these
two states. The habitat in this area is similar to the Missouri River
Breaks, which will help these sheep adapt to their new surroundings quicker.
A decision was made to capture and remove some sheep from HD 680 after
FWP biologists counted 373 sheep during a population survey last August.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hired a private contractor to capture
these animals in conjunction with other wildlife capture and/or radio-collaring
projects across the state. The capture crew utilized a helicopter and
hand-held net gun to locate and capture the sheep, which were then transported
in the helicopter to where the ground crew was set up. The ground crew
included FWP personnel and biologists from Idaho and Oregon. Two wildlife
veterinarians were also present. Sheep were aged, given antibiotics, and
had blood samples taken. The crew from Idaho and Oregon also attached
radio-collars so the sheep could be tracked after the release to determine
the success of the transplant.

Sixteen of the captured sheep were ewes and 4 were yearling
rams. Most of the ewes ranged from 2 - 5 years old and all the sheep appeared
to be in good health. All of the animals were safely released in Idaho,
although one young ram promptly swam across the Snake River into Oregon.

Since bighorn sheep are very susceptible to various
viral and bacterial diseases, especially when at high population densities,
the FWP Commission also increased the either-sex and adult-ewe sheep licenses
in HD 680 at the recommendation of biologists. Bighorn sheep die-offs
occur frequently throughout the west and in 1998 a die-off killed approximately
75% of the sheep in the Little Rocky Mountains. Bighorn sheep in the Missouri
River Breaks south of Malta (HD 622) also appear to be having disease
related problems affecting lamb production and/or survival. The primary
objective of removing sheep in HD 680 by capture and hunting is to slow
the growth of this sheep population to prevent a die-off from occurring
and to maintain this sheep population at a healthy level compatible with
the available habitat.

Parks Division
Potential State Park(s) for R-6
Due to the commendable volunteer efforts of 12 citizens who live within
the Region Six area, a list of potential state parks sites will be on
the Directors and Park Administrators desk by July 1st of this year.
Since their initial meeting in September of 2001, the R-6 State Parks
Search Committee has brainstormed ideas, conducted on-site visits, and
is currently prioritizing sites that will hopefully become part of Montanas
State Park system.

Of course, the real work will begin when the Director
gives us the go ahead. Depending on which potential site(s) will be selected,
the acquisition and initial development could be a long process.

But, most importantly, it looks like the only FWP Region
in the state with out a state park is getting closer in achieving a bona
fide State Park!

Fisheries Division
Havre
Drought is a big concern for this area. Many fisheries in the area are
lost and many are desperate if we continue to receive limited precipitation.
There are a few isolated ponds with good to fair water levels but they
are few and far between. Ice fishing in the Havre area has been relatively
slow as secure ice showed up around mid-January. Bear Paw Lake, Beaver
Creek Reservoir and Bailey Reservoir constitute the only fishing available
in this area. Good moisture in the upcoming months is desperately needed.

Glasgow
Lower Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers Pallid Sturgeon Project
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks river crew dedicated considerable
time during 2001 evaluating recent stockings of hatchery-produced pallid
sturgeon. A total of 780 and 680 juvenile pallid sturgeon were stocked
into the Missouri (below Fort Peck Dam) and Yellowstone rivers during
1998 and 2000, respectively. These fish were produced from wild adult
pallid sturgeon captured at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone
rivers. Recent stocking efforts are one component of a recovery plan aimed
at restoring pallid sturgeon to these rivers, which were federally listed
as an endangered species in 1990. It is suspected pallid sturgeon have
not reproduced naturally in the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers for at
least the past thirty years.

The river crew drifted nets at several locations in
the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers in the spring and again in August
attempting to recapture these stocked pallids. Over 500 net drifts were
completed, but only five hatchery-produced juvenile pallid sturgeon were
sampled. These results indicate that stocked pallids may not be surviving
as well as hoped. FWP biologists are working cooperatively with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to increase the number of juvenile pallids stocked
into these river reaches. Currently, there are several thousand yearling
pallid sturgeon at the Miles City State Fish Hatchery that are slated
to be stocked into the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers this coming summer.Fort
Peck Flow

Modification Project
Suppressed water temperature and low turbidity in the 200 mile reach of
Missouri river below Fort Peck Dam is the impetus for the Fort Peck flow
modification project. Proposed flow modifications include the release
of water via the spillway to enhance the rivers water temperature
and turbidity, as well as creating a spring pulse to provide spawning
cues and enhance spawning conditions for pallid sturgeon and other native
fish species. This past year was the first year of the study and will
provide baseline or pre-spill release information. Components of the monitoring
program include measuring water temperatures and turbidity at several
locations, examining movements of pallid sturgeon and other native species,
quantifying larval fish production, and examining food habits of piscivorous
fish species. This project is a cooperative effort between MT Fish, Wildlife
& Parks and the U.S. Geological Survey and is funded by the Army Corps
of Engineers.
Project accomplishments during 2001 included: 1) the deployment of 29
continuous-recording water temperature loggers throughout the Missouri
and Yellowstone rivers; 2) surgical implantation of radio transmitters
into 29 shovelnose sturgeon, 16 blue suckers, and 19 paddlefish; and 3)
the collection of 1,078 larval fish samples from six sites including the
Missouri River above the spillway, in the spillway channel, Wolf Point,
Nohly, and the Yellowstone and Milk rivers. No pallid sturgeon were located
in the Fort Peck Dam tailwater to implant with transmitters. Project efforts
during 2002 will focus on these same components of the study.

Lower Milk River Fish Study
The Fort Belknap Water Rights Compact includes the possibility of developing
an off-stream storage reservoir. Water to fill this reservoir would be
diverted from the Milk River during peak flows in the spring. This would
likely result in reduced flows in the lower 120 miles of the Milk at a
time when native fish species are migrating from the Missouri River into
the Milk River to spawn. The Bureau of Reclamation funded this two-year
study to better characterize the native fishery in the lower Milk River.
Very low flows during 2001 made sampling difficult. Flows were negligible
during most of May and part of June, and were well below average the remainder
of the spring. Because of this, it appeared that few native species migrated
up the Milk River to spawn this year.

Enforcement Division
Glasgow
Another hunting season has come and gone for the enforcement division
of Region 6. This past season saw some changes from the previous year.
The enforcement team is currently working well together and has developed
good relationships with other agencies crucial to the department. We would
like to thank the private landowners, sportsmen, BLM, Region 6 Indian
Reservations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
National Wildlife Refuges, and respective police and sheriff's departments
for there help and cooperation with the department. We are currently working
with the Bear Paw and Hinsdale Elk Working Groups to maintain populations
at levels not detrimental to the landowners.

Protecting our resource is a vital part of our job.
We have a keen interest in protecting the region and proving the best
recreational opportunities to all. With the season comes a few who abuse
the resource. Some of the infractions successfully investigated this year
have been: a residency/loan/transfer case from hunters on the Medicine
Lake - National Wildlife Refuge, a group of non-resident hunters from
Minnesota illegally killing deer near Circle, shooting of decoy's throughout
the region, non-resident waterfowl hunters in the Malta area, non-residents
from Florida posing as residents for a number of years in the Malta area
and a variety of over limits throughout the region.

A mild winter, poor ice conditions and low water levels
throughout the region are issues that will make recreating difficult for
the public and make our jobs more challenging. We ask that you have patience
and call if you have any questions.

A reminder to all who see unethical and unlawful behavior. The TIP-MONT
program is a successful program due to the dedicated public. Anyone who
has information concerning violations is encouraged to call the TIP-MONT
(1-800-847-6668) hot line. You are eligible for a cash reward and may
remain anonymous.
As March settles in, we are preparing for our normal springtime tasks
across the region. Be safe and enjoy recreating this upcoming spring.

Conservation Education
Glasgow
The Bitter Creek Mule Deer school project hit the classrooms in Glasgow,
Opheim and Hinsdale again this year. The program is offered to middle
school students and visits to these schools occur four times a year. The
curriculum centers around deer biology, game damage, habitat, trapping
procedures, duties of wildlife biologists and the importance of the four-year
study being done by Wildlife Biologist Pat Gunderson. Each student is
tracking one of the collared mule deer on the study area. Each student
will track his or her deer for a one-year period. The students are provided
locations of the deer twice during the winter months and once during the
summer months. The BLM provides the maps for the students free of charge.

Construction is to begin this spring on the youth fishing
pond to be built at Sullivan Park. $30,600 was awarded by a department
grant to begin the construction. An additional $10,000 CTAP grant was
awarded last year to the project. Many community entities will provide
volunteer work to progress the building of the pond. Once the pond is
built, fishing clinics to teach young anglers will be provided. Volunteer
angler education instructors will be needed to conduct the fishing clinics.
Please consider becoming a volunteer instructor as it will be necessary
for the success of the program. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer
angler education instructor, please contact the Glasgow FWP office at
228-3700. Tentative plans are to provide a short training session for
all volunteers before the clinics will be provided.

Do you have a child interested in Hunter or Bowhunter
Education class? Call the office and get your child on the list. Classes
are provided by volunteer instructors and should be offered in Glasgow
this spring and possibly this summer. Once a class is scheduled you will
be contacted as to a time and place for the class.

A meeting room is available to all clubs pertaining
to natural resources at the Region 6 headquarters. The room is free of
charge to these clubs. If interested, please call the office for availability.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks held its annual meeting
for the public at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow on February 25th. The
Region 6 department managers presented a brief update on the progress
regarding the 6-year plan. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director,
Jeff Hagener, conclude the night briefly discussing issues the department
is addressing and answering questions from the public.

Glasgow will host Region 6 Hunter/Bowhunter Safety instructors
for its regional meeting on March 30th at the Cottonwood Inn. Interested
instructors should contact the Glasgow office at 228-3700 if they have
plans on attending.

(Dr. Charles Wilson) The 7th Annual Glasgow Kiwanis
Science was held Saturday March 9th and Monday March 11, 2002 at the Glasgow
Middle School. 45 students presented 31 projects from grades 5 to 8, which
were judged by 7 teams of judges. Students could present projects alone,
or as a team of two. Projects were to demonstrate the scientific method
by performing an experiment comparing things. A different format was followed
this year to try to accommodate different scheduling conflicts so that
students could be judged on either Saturday or Monday. 19 of the students
were from 5th grade, representing 31% of the 5th grade students; 16 were
from the 6th grade representing 26%; 7 students were 7th grade, and 3
were 8th graders. There were also 4 Technology exhibits presented by the
Computer club, which were judged separately.

Thanks also go to school personnel, teachers, and parents for their support.
The Kiwanis Club awarded ribbons and certificates. The first place winners
in each grade received $50 in Glasgow Chamber Big Bucks courtesy
the Kiwanis Club, and second place received $25 in Big Bucks,
shared if a team. The school system will take 21 selected projects to
a regional Science and Engineering Fair to be held at Havre March 25th.
The top finishers in each grade will present their projects as the program
at the regular Kiwanis Club meeting at noon at the Cottonwood Inn on Wednesday
March 27th.

(Press Release) Dwayne Andrews, a long time Montana
Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) employee and
current Area Manager of DNRCs Eastern Land Office, was recently
recognized for his efforts associated with the Knowlton Travel Management
Plan.

As a member of the southeastern Montana Resource Advisory
Council (RAC), Andrews was one of three Montanans to receive the prestigious
Public Land Professional of the Year award. The award is presented annually
by the Public Lands Foundation, a Virginia-based, non-profit, non-government,
all-volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the ecological balance
of all BLM-managed public lands, according to information on the foundations
webpage.

Andrews was honored due to his untiring efforts associated
with a comprehensive travel management plan in eastern Montana, known
as the Knowlton Travel Management Plan. Andrews worked in his official
capacity as the DNRC representative to the RAC.

The Knowlton Travel Management Plan was a special
effort by the southeastern Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and
the Miles City Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Andrews explained. Agencies typically develop resource plans and
present it to the public through a formal and sometimes rigid process.
The concept employed for this effort however, was significantly different.
The RAC and BLM felt the final product would be more acceptable to the
users of the land if they were involved with plan development from the
beginning. The final travel management plan represents input from a wide
and diverse group of individuals. All parties reached a unified agreement
and the users and the involved agencies accepted the final product before
it was formally presented to the BLM. It was the community and local involvement
that was the catalyst for the final product and its success.

When asked about the significance of the award, Andrews
stated, Recognition of our efforts simply supports the process and
results achieved by everyone that gave their time and commitment to a
new way of doing business.

Two other eastern Montana gentlemen were also recipients
of the award along with Andrews. Those men are Roundup rancher, Bill Milton,
and David Squires, a natural resource specialist with the BLMs Miles
City Field Office. These gentlemen were also involved in the development
of the management plan.

The Knowlton Travel Management Plan is a comprehensive
plan that addresses increasing traffic, trespassing on private land, damage
to highly erodible land and fragile vegetation, the rapid creation of
two track trails and subsequent patrolling difficulty, mapping and land
designation between federal, state, county, and private lands in eastern
Montana.

Our success was due mainly to our approach of
bringing in all the interested parties at the forefront of the planning
process rather than after the plan was drafted or adopted. Because of
this, we have a plan that is comprehensive, addressing all concerns and
issues. Thats why this plan is a success, because it works,
Andrews explained.

This honor is an example of the dedication and
professionalism of DNRC employees. Dwayne worked diligently on this plan.
He performed admirable, not only in his official capacity, but also for
the people of eastern Montana. This plan is a credit to not only him but
to all those that participated in the project. This project will benefit
all Montanans now and in the future, explained DNRC Director,
Bud Clinch.

Andrews, Milton and Squires were presented the
awards on February 28 in the BLM Directors Office in Washington,
D.C.

Five Grain Cars Derail In Cut
Bank (Mon, Mar 11, 2002)

(Cut Bank-AP) -- Five grain cars derailed near the Harvest
States grain elevator in Cut Bank on Sunday, temporarily closing one of
two railway tracks but causing no injury and minimal damage. Officials
say the derailed cars should be removed sometime today.

A Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway spokesman says
an automatic switching mechanism caused the derailment yesterday afternoon
and employees are trying to determine why the parked cars began rolling.
The five empty grain cars, which were being temporarily stored in Cut
Bank, were grouped together and not attached to any other train cars.

Train traffic continued on the second track, and
there was minimal damage to the train cars and the track. The derailment
blocked vehicle traffic at Cut Bank's main railroad crossing all afternoon
and evening, but cars could cross at two other intersections. (Copyright
2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Poplar Man Pleads Guilty In
Strangling Case (Mon, Mar 11, 2002)

(Great Falls-AP) A Poplar man has pleaded guilty in
federal court at Great Falls to strangling a man on the Fort Peck Reservation
in September.

Thirty-five-year-old Richard Melbourne faces second-degree
murder charges in the death of James Dean Shy Face, also of Poplar. Shy
Face's body was found about seven miles southeast of Poplar, near the
Missouri River. Fort Peck tribal police and the F-B-I investigated the
death.

Melbourne had pleaded innocent in January. He has been
in the Cascade County regional jail since his arrest in December. He could
be given life in prison at his sentencing on June 27th. (Copyright 2002
by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Washington-AP) Amtrak officials confirm the resignation
of the railroad's president. George Warrington had challenged Congress
to more clearly define the mission for the nation's passenger rail company
and give it more money.

Sources say Warrington will be joining New Jersey Transit.

Warrington's resignation was a surprise and comes as
the financially troubled railroad fights efforts to break it up. His strategy
has been to push the railroad to fiscal health, but costs rose along with
income and ridership. Watchdogs now agree it will not achieve self-sufficiency
by the December deadline set by Congress. W

arrington has threatened to cut some or all of
Amtrak's 18 long-distance trains unless it receives one-point-two (b)
billion dollars in funding next year. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Montana Driver Of Tanker Carrying
Asphalt Cited (Fri, Mar 8, 2002)

(Williston, North Dakota-AP) Clean up is continuing
near Williston, North Dakota, after a semi-tanker carrying about 66-thousand
pounds of hot asphalt overturned early Thursday.

Authorities identified the driver as 35-year-old Kelly
Corwin of Wolf Point, Montana. He was given a citation for careless driving.

Officials say the tanker rolled over off U-S Highway
Two. It was headed to Williston from Billings. Some of the asphalt leaked
had to be dammed up in the ditch. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)

(Baker-AP) The mayor of Baker and a veteran broadcaster--
Kelly Coldwell -- has died after a lengthy illness. He was 58.

Police Chief Randy Ketterling says Coldwell had been
hospitalized on and off since last fall, and died last night at the Fallon
Medical Complex in Baker.

City Clerk Kevin Dukart says Coldwell had been battling
a severe infection, which forced doctors to remove one of his legs late
last year.

Coldwell had used a wheelchair since the late 1970s,
when he lost the use of both legs in an automobile accident.

Coldwell served a term on the Baker City Council,
and last November was elected to a third term as mayor, a post he had
held since 1994. Before entering politics, he had a long career in radio
and television in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, including
KLTZ radio in Glasgow in the late sixties and early seventies. He continued
to work part-time for K-F-L-N Radio in Baker. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Longest Dam Run Expands To Include
Triathlon (Wed, Mar 6, 2002)

(Press Release) The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce &
Agriculture is expanding the Longest Dam Run to the Longest Dam Race.
This year the event will include a triathlon. A 10K run, biking and rowing
will be the complete event. Teams of one to four persons may compete.

Headquarters for the race will remain at Kiwanis Park
outside of Fort Peck. In addition to the triathlon, the 10K, 5K and 1
mile will also be open for participation.

Anyone may participate in the triathlon or solo any
one of the events as an individual event. The triathlon will be a staged
(timed) even, allowing for individuals to participate.

Also look for the Valley County Transit Bus to transport
passengers out to race headquarters from Glasgow, free of charge, for
race participants.

The Dam Race Committee is asking for public help designing
the 2002 t-shirt logo. The t-shirt design must include the Powerhouses
of Fort Peck Dam. The winner will receive a t-shirt and $25 in Chamber
Big Bucks. This contest is open to everyone. T-shirt designs must be turned
in to the Chamber no later than April 9th. A panel of judges will then
review the designs and select the winner. Last years winner was
Dustin Hackwith from Glasgow.

(Press Release) The Final Fort Peck Fisheries Management
Plan has been signed by the Director and is now available for public review
at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices in Glasgow, Missoula and
Helena.

Any interested parties may request a copy by stopping
by any one of these offices, or calling the Glasgow Area Office at 228-3700
or by writing: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, RT 1-4210, Glasgow, MT
59230. It is also available on the FWP Web page: www.fwp.state.mt.us

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Glasgow School District is still
struggling with declining enrollment and will face budget shortfalls this
coming school year.

According to Glasgow Superintendent Glenn Monson the
enrollment for Glasgow will be down 47 students next year which means
a decrease in funding of $250,083. The school budget will be set at $4,098,667.85.

The district will deal with the shortfall by using $100,000
in budgeted savings from the closure of the South Side Elementary school.
The district also will use an estimated $32,000 in flex fund money to
offset the deficit. School funding law also allows the district to run
a technology depreciation levy. If the board runs that levy that could
bring in an additional $60,000. This would still leave an estimated $59,000
shortfall for the coming budget year. The board will look at the possibility
of staffing cuts to cover the rest of the budget deficit.

According to the school principals the only staffing
cuts that might be made would be in the Irle School where the 2nd grade
class enrollment is going from 71 to 51.

The Middle School enrollment is steady and the High
School enrollment will be down 19 or 20 students but no teachers could
be cut without eliminating programs.

Monson did note that Glasgow does meet or in most cases
exceed state accreditation standards.

The Glasgow school board has approved an retirement
incentive package for Glasgow teachers. Currently there are 11 teachers
who have from 26-40 years of experience. The board currently has $100,000
that could be used for incentives for those 11 educators or school principals
who might be interested in retiring. Teachers have until the end of the
month to inform the board on whether they would accept the retirement
incentive. The $100,000 is enough money to have 4 teachers retire this
year.

Fort Peck Fine Arts Council
Holds Annual Meeting (Wed, Mar 6, 2002)

(Press Release) Kari Lee Knierim of Glasgow was elected
to a second term as president of the Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, Inc.
during the groups annual meeting February 25 at the Elks Club.
Twenty people who work with the Council on the Summer Theatre and Restoration
Boards attended the meeting.

The group also re-elected Lorraine Hughes of Glasgow
to serve as vice president and Andi Johnson of Fort Peck was elected to
the combined position of secretary/treasurer. Other Council members re-elected
were: Chair of the Summer Board Mary Strand of Fort Peck and Havre; Chair
of the Restoration Board Patt Etchart of Glasgow; Historian Kay Sundheim
of Nashua; members at large Gayle Hammond of Saco and Gerry and Louise
Peterson of Wolf Point. Jim Smrcka of Glasgow was elected to a three-year
term as a member-at-large.

The Council has a full agenda for the year, including
construction of handicapped-access restrooms on the north side of the
Theatre lobby. "We hope to begin construction this spring,"
Etchart reported. The Council will host a Chinese Auction on March 23
to raise funding for the project.
Summer Theatre plans are going well and contracts have been issued to
the professional staff, Strand said. The musicals Oliver and South Pacific
followed by Arsenic and Old Lace will make up the season. Several performances
of Greater Tuna are also planned.

The Council expressed appreciation to Don Wienke of
Glasgow for his donation of $10,000 to the Theatre Preservation Foundation.
"He has been a tireless worker for the Theatre for many, many years,
and this gift is an encouragement for everyone to keep up the good work,"
Foundation Chair Cindy Markle of Glasgow said.

Hughes explained preliminary results of a goals-setting
process which the Council set in motion last year. She distributed a list
and asked each board member to prioritize goals in each category.

In concluding the meeting, Knierim thanked everyone
for their work in helping to make the Councils efforts successful.

Cancellations (Tue, Mar 5, 2002)

(KLTZ) The visiting specialists scheduled for today
have been cancelled, as they couldnt land at the airport. They have
been rescheduled for March 21st. They include Dr. Echeverri, Dr. McMurry
& Dr. Roane.

The Wolf Scoping meeting scheduled for this evening
has been cancelled. It has been rescheduled for March 13th.

Saco school will be dismissed at 1p.m. today due to
weather. Buses will run at this time.

The Saco/Hinsdale volleyball game scheduled for this
evening has been cancelled.

Hinsdale school will be let out at 12:30p.m. today due
to weather, buses will run at this time.

The spelling bee scheduled for today in Hinsdale is
cancelled & will be tomorrow instead.

(Stan Ozark, KLTZ) The Glasgow City Council met in regular
session on Monday evening and discussed the possibility of a new police
car acquisition program.

Council member Bob West had proposed purchasing new
police cars every year. West reasoned that by buying new vehicles the
city could save money by eliminating maintenance on the four cars that
the department currently uses.

The department's vehicle fleet would be reduced from
it's current four cars to three. There was discussion at last nights meeting
on how much money could actually be saved on maintenance with the purchase
of new vehicles. The city currently purchases used vehicles from Weber
County, Utah.

The council did agree to ask for bids on two new 2003
model police cars. The bids then will be studied to figure out if the
city could actually save money by changing the way it manages it's police
car fleet.

Also at last night's meeting a committee was formed
to discuss with the chamber of commerce regarding the parking situation
in downtown Glasgow.

The council also purchased a new computer for the recreation
department at a cost of $988. The bid was awarded to Hi-Line Computer
Systems.

Marvin Tarum representing Dry Prairie Rural Water addressed
the council and asked them if they would be willing to form a joint committee
with Dry Prairie to take an in-depth look at the costs of Glasgow joining
the water system. The council agreed to that and will form a committee
with Dry Prairie.

(AP) A Denver-based company says it's paying 38-point-seven
million-dollars for oil and gas properties in the Williston Basin.

State officials say the sale makes the Westport Resources
Corporation one of the top players in the basin. Westport won't reveal
the seller, but it says most of the properties involved are in North Dakota.
The rest are in Montana.

The sale became final last Friday.

The company says the properties amount to an estimated
eight-point-nine (m) million barrels of oil and natural gas reserves,
known in the industry as "barrel of oil equivalents."

Lynn Helms, who heads the North Dakota Industrial Commission's
Oil and Gas Division, says Westport has been working in the Williston
Basin since about 1995. He says the sale might mean some projects get
delayed in the short term, but the long-term impact is a good one. Copyright
2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(Billings-AP) Two Minnesota residents and a man from
northeastrn Montana have pleaded innocent in U-S District Court in Billings
to charges of trading fish fillets for deer licenses over a five-year
period.

Federal prosecutors allege Jan Peters of Froid provided
Charles Campbell and Daniel Tonga deer tags for fish between 1995 and
1999. If convicted on all seven charges, the men could each receive maximum
sentences of 12 years in prison and a 1-point-2 million dollar fine for
violating game laws in the federal Lacey Act. They are now free without
bond until trial.

Over the five-year period, the charges allege Peters
accepted at least 270 pounds of walleye fillets from Campbell and Tonga,
who shot 20 deer, including a five-point whitetail buck. Copyright 2002
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Corps' Comment Period Ends With
55,000 Submitted (Sun, Mar 3, 2002)

(Omaha, Nebraska-AP) The U-S Army Corps of Engineers
in Omaha, Nebraska, says its has gotten 55-thousand comments on six plans
being considered for management of the Missouri River. The six-month comment
period ended yesterday.

The options took nearly a decade of studies, workshops
and hearings -- all the way from Helena to New Orleans. The management
plans include current water control provisions, involving the river and
its six reservoirs, and a full range of flow changes described by the
U-S Fish and Wildlife Service.

The corps will evaluate the comments during the next
few weeks regarding a revised draft environmental impact statement. A
final statement will be released at the end of May.

(Press Release) Missouri River Country in cooperation
with the Malta Chamber of Commerce will fund four classified advertisements
in Bird Watchers Digest through Missouri River Countrys cooperative
marketing program. The advertisements will be seen in the April, May,
July and August, 2002 editions and will target Bowdoin National Wildlife
Refuge. The goal of the ads is to attract "birders" those
individuals whose hobbies are locating and watching birds and completing
their lifetime bird list. In addition to traveling to Bowdoin, it is the
intent of the ads to invite these visitors to the area and spend an extra
day or two in Missouri River Country.

The cooperative marketing funds are a 50/50 split between
Missouri River Country and the Malta Chamber of Commerce. The funds are
made possible by bed tax dollars generated in the Missouri River Country
tourism region and are offered annually by Missouri River Country through
an application process.

(Great Falls-AP) Amtrak will cut baggage check and shipping
services for at least two of its Hi-Line stations, at East Glacier Park
and Wolf Point. It's part of the railroad's effort to cut expenses and
meet its budget.

Several florists and at least one funeral home say they'll
be seriously hampered by the lack of Amtrak freight service.

Amtrak's one Montana route provides the Hi-Line its
only means of public transportation. Many Hi-Line residents are sensitive
to the railroad's fate and consider this wave of cutbacks a call to arms.

Shelby Mayor Larry Bonderud says Amtrak should increase,
not decrease, its freight-carrying capacity. Amtrak is also cutting staff
by one position each in Havre, East Glacier and Whitefish. (Copyright
2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(FWP Press Release) A meeting concerning proposed fisheries
management on Fort Peck Reservoir for the upcoming year will be held from
1:00-4:00 p.m. at the VFW Club in Glasgow on March 23rd. This is the annual
informational meeting mentioned in the revised Ft. Peck Management Plan
that will be held each March to update the interested public. The meeting
will cover the present status of the fishery and how past, present and
future water levels may affect the short-term stocking and management
of the fishery. All interested anglers are welcome to attend.

Harris Becker

Harris Becker, 88, died at his ranch west of Opheim
on March 22nd. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 27th at
11 a.m. at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow.

Harris was born in 1913 on the Becker family homestead
south of Anamoose, North Dakota, to George Becker and Alvina Hss. Harris
attended a country school, and at the age of sixteen he moved to Opheim,
Montana.

Harris was one of the old time, independent and self-reliant
early settlers of Valley County. He tended sheep for several years on
the Wild Horse Flats, Kansas Flats and the White Place. Harris also spent
winters running a trap line and worked horse roundups at government corral.
He purchased land west of the coal mines. He also enlisted in the U.S.
Army Air Corps at the outset of World War II.

Harris married Marie Sims of Malone, Florida, in 1946.
The couple returned to Opheim and made their home on the Montana prairie.
Harris was a hard worker. He shared many stories of days gone by with
his friends and family. He also liked to share pictures of his livestock,
including his favorite bull, Grasshopper. Harris was very fond of his
animals. He died with his dog, Lady, at his side, while returning from
his barn.

Harris was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, in
1992; 3 brothers: Gordon, Elroy and George, and one sister, Lily.

Survivors include 1 brother: Norman, of Anamoose, North
Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Lewis C. Archambeault

Lewis C. Archambeault, 86, died of natural causes on
Saturday, March 23rd at the family home in Glasgow. Funeral services will
be held on Wednesday, March 27th at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in
Glasgow with Reverend Martin Mock officiating with burial in Highland
Cemetery. A reception will follow the service at the VFW Club. Bell Mortuary
is in charge of arrangements.

Lewis was born in 1916 in Glasgow to Victor and Mabel
Archambeault. he was raised on the family farm north of Fort Peck. A graduate
of Glasgow High School, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman
for one year.

Lewis married Helen Nilson on Christmas Eve, 1938, in
Wolf Point. After their marriage they lived on the family ranch until
1973, when Lewis and Helen sold the ranch and moved to Glasgow. They spent
their winters in Mesa and Peoria, Arizona, until Helen's death in 1999.

Lewis served in World War II in the European Theatre
with Company B379, 95th Infantry Division. He reached the rank of acting
Captain shortly before his honorable discharge in 1945. He earned numerous
medals during his service, including two Purple Hearts and the Bronze
Star. Lewis was an avid and accomplished golfer, despite taking up the
sport at the age of 57.

Lewis served for many years on the Montana Grass Commission,
most of the time as its Chairman. He was also Chairman of the Fort Peck
School Board for several years in the late fifties and early sixties.
He was a member of the Montana Stockgrowers, Glasgow Elks Club, Sunnyside
Country Club and the American Legion.

Survivors include 1 son: Gerald T. "Buck"
Archambeault; his daughter-in-law: Kelly Archambeault; 2 grandchildren:
Nicole Archambeault of Billings and Michael Archambeault of Gilbert, Arizona;
his nephew: Robert Livingston, who has lived with the family for most
of his life; 1 brother: Bill Archambeault of Glasgow; 1 sister: Alice
Livingston of Havre. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother
Jim, and his wife of 61 years.

The family requests that all memorials in the memory
of Lewis be sent to the First Lutheran Church Foundation in Glasgow.

Deanna Ellen Waller

Deanna Ellen Waller died of heart failure on March 18th
at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. She was 48. Services will
be at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow on Saturday, March 23rd at
2 p.m. with Reverend Martin Mock officiating. Burial will be in the Lebanon
Cemetery in Brinsmade, North Dakota. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Deanna was born in 1953 in Kalispell, Montana, to John
Learn and Ellen Mae (Murphy) Learn. She was raised and attended schools
in Kalispell, and graduated from Flathead High School. She lived between
Kalispell and Dillon.

In 1976 Deanna married Dave Waller in Dillon, Montana.
They have lived in Bottineau, North Dakota, Dillon, Butte, Ennis, Watford
City, Bismarck, and for the last 9 years in Fort Peck, Montana. Deanna
worked at the post office in Fort Peck. She collected things like bells,
beanie babies and coins. She really enjoyed kids. She was a member of
the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow and served as a Sunday School teacher.
She was very punctual and meticulous. If you were not 10 minutes early
then you were late.

Nellie Mae Jones Greer of Hinsdale died after a long
illness on March 14th in Laurel, Montana. She was 72. Services will be
Wednesday, March 20th at 1 p.m. at the Hinsdale Methodist Church, with
burial in the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale. Bell Mortuary is in charge
of arrangements.

Nellie was the daughter of Rank and Winnie Kent Jones
of Hinsdale. She attended Jones Rural School and graduated from Hinsdale
High School in 1947. She worked hard all of her life. She worked with
horses in Montana, Colorado and Illinois. She married Charles Dunwiddie
and later, Robert Greer Junior. She loved her family dearly.

Survivors include 7 children: Robert John Greer of Sterling,
Illinois; Jane Milder of Billings; Linda Strawbridge of Great Falls; Tom
Greer of Geneseo, Illinois; Sally Kelly of Palmdale, California; Yvonne
Paddick of Jackson, Kentucky; Scott Greer of Erie, Illinois; 2 sisters:
Mona Storduhl and Rene Lock; 2 brothers: Frank Jones and Thomas Jones.
She was preceded in death by her husbands and 9 siblings.

Jack Morehouse

Jack Morehouse of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died at
his home of cancer on March 13th. He was 70. Services will be Monday,
March 18th at 2pm at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow with
burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Military honors will be given at Highland Cemetery.

Jack was born in 1931 in Hinsdale to W.D. and Laimi
(Boala) Morehouse. He was raised and educated in Hinsdale. He served in
the military with the U.S. Army from November, 1951, to November, 1953.
Jack was a paint contractor and loved to hunt, trap and fish.

Laura Elizabeth House Vernon of Glasgow died of natural
causes on March 7th in Bellevue, Washington. She was 83. Memorial services
will be held at the Community Christ Church in Renton, Washington, on
March 16th. Visitation is at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow on March 18th. Funeral
services will be Tuesday, March 19th at 1p.m. at the Community of Christ
Church in Glasgow with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in
charge of arrangements.

She was born in 1919 in Opheim on the family homestead,
the first of five children born to Theodore and Hazel Miller. While attending
the Opheim High School she was a star athlete for the girls basketball
team.

She married Henry David House in 1940 in Great Falls.
She worked as a book keeper and housewife most of her life. She was a
member of the Community of Christ Church all of her life and held several
priesthood offices. She also was a pastor for several years.

After the death of Dave House she relocated to Washington
and married Dale Lester Vernon in 1993.

Survivors include her husband, Dale, of Bellevue, Washington;
2 sons: Henry David House Jr. and his wife Linda of Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Richard Carl House of Kansas City, Missouri; 2 daughters: Ula Valarie
Dodson and her husband Harold of Springfield, Illinois; Marjeana Faith
House of Parkville, Missouri; 1 brother: Ted Miller and his wife Colleen
of Opheim; 1 sister: Bun Daggett and her husband Don of Glasgow; 12 grandchildren,
18 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first
husband Henry, one son-Ronald Leeland House, and sisters Valarie Morris
and Myrtle Omvig.

Martha Doney

Martha Doney, 56, departed from her family and friends
on March 11, 2002 at the Mountain View Memorial Nursing Home in White
Sulpher Springs following a lengthy illness. Rosary will be held at the
Bell Mortuary at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 14. Funeral services will
be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 15 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in
Frazer, with Father Steve Zabrocki officiating at both services. Interment
will take place at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Frazer.

Martha was born on June 10, 1946 to Samuel E. Sr., and
Gretchen (Konrad) Ohlson at Glasgow. She was raised on the family farm
south of Nashua, along with her two brothers. She attended school in Nashua,
and graduated from there in 1964. Martha married Jim Doney on June 22,
1964 at Wolf Point. Together they brought two children into the world.
She enjoyed farming, gardening, and ranching alongside her husband on
their farm at Wiota. Martha enjoyed sewing and quilting. She made many
star quilts for family weddings, births, and even burials. Martha created
a number of the quilts which were presented during basketball tournaments.
Martha was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and a friend to many. She
will be greatly missed, yet we are comforted knowing she is now at peace.

Martha is survived by her husband Jim, sons Paul Doney
and his wife Wendy of Havre, and Michael Doney of Nashua. She has seven
grandchildren: Thomas, Joeseph, Jacob, Jaeinda, JaNae, Kyle, and Dylan;
two brothers: Otto Ohlson and wife Betty from White Sulpher Springs, Sam
Ohlson and his wife Nancy of Hinsdale; and many numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by both her parents.

Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Mary G. Copple

Mary G. Copple of Malta died of natural causes on March
9th at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. She was 92. Services will
be Thursday, March 14th at 2p.m. at the Little White Church in Malta with
burial in the Malta City Cemetery. Reverend Kent Gordon will officiate
and Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mary was born in Larimore, North Dakota, in 1909 to
David and Sara Simpson. They moved to the Bowdoin Community east of Malta
in 1913 and then her family moved to Great Falls in 1916. She lived most
of her life in Saco and Malta. Mary married Charles D. Copple; he passed
away in 1969. She managed the Smith Cafe in Saco from 1953 to 1958, when
she moved to Malta, where she owned and operated Mary's Cafe. She also
worked at other cafe's in Malta. She moved to Nemont Manor in Glasgow
in 1997. Mary enjoyed playing cards, bingo, gardening, flowers, making
afghans and visiting with people.

Survivors include 3 sons: Charles Copple of Glasgow;
William Copple of Saco; David Copple of Pawhuska, Oklahoma; 1 daughter:
Ileen Pekovitch of Saco; 21 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and
13 great great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by brothers Leslie, David
and Walter Simpson, a sister, Daisy Smith, 3 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren
and her daughter, Margaret Anderson.

Martha M. (Dighans) Hersel

Martha M. (Dighans) Hersel, former Peerless resident,
died at age 77 at Deconess Hospital in Billings on March 3rd. Prayer service
will be March 8th at 7 a.m. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on March
8th at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Scobey, with burial in the Scobey
Cemetery.

Martha was born in 1924 in Borderland, Saskatchewan,
Canada, to Peter and Magdalena Dighans. At the age of one and a half years,
they moved to her childhood home north of Peerless, Montana. She attended
school in Peerless and graduated in 1943. After graduation she worked
for the Western Union in Washington state, then moved to Washington D.C.
where she worked for the Secret Service.

In 1949 she married Edwin L. Hersel at Peerless. To
this union were born 4 children. Martha and Ed farmed and ranched in the
Peerless and Richland areas until they moved to Billings in 1998.

Martha was a member of the Saint Anns Altar Society
and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her grandchildren, cooking,
embroidery, quilting, taking care of her farmyard animals and listening
to ball games on the radio.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin; 4 children: Bernard of Billings;
Aquina and her husband Garry Beck of West Fargo, North Dakota; Leonard
and his wife Linda of Scobey; Andrew and his wife Marjorie of Scobey;
10 grandchildren: Brett, Michelle and Megan Hersel; Darin, Jennifer Beck;
Dennis, Jonathon and Niel Hersel; Terry and Roxanne Hersel; and one great
grandchild, Jared Beck; 3 sisters: Christina Taylor, Mary Dighans, and
Francis Hagen; 5 brothers: John, Anton, Peter, Bernard and Jim; many nieces
and nephews.

Her parents, 2 sisters: Elizabeth Dighans and Agnes
Sheets, 2 brothers: Henry and Alfred Dighans, all preceded her in death.

Carol Sue Arnold

Carol Sue Arnold of Hinsdale, 57, died of Relapsing
Polychondritis at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Services will be Saturday, March 9th at 2 p.m. at the Hinsdale High School
Gymnasium in Hinsdale, with burial in the Hillview Cemetery. Reverend
Chris Flohr will be officiating and Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Carol was born in Missoula in 1944 to Emil Hoskamer
and Evelyn Augustine Hoskamer. She was raised in Great Falls. Her mother
died when she was 5 years old. During her high school years she lived
with her foster parents, Logan and Kay Hurlburt in Great Falls. Carol
graduated from Great Falls High School, and earned her teaching certificate
at Eastern Montana College in Billings. She taught for 2 years in Saco
and 2 years in Hinsdale.

In 1967 she married Arthur Arnold in Great Falls. Carol
and Art lived in Hinsdale where she taught and was very active in student
activities. Carol served on the school board for 12 years, was an avid
basketball fan, and she was presently serving on the Frances Mahon Deaconess
Hospital Board of Trustees. She was active with the local Democratic Party
and was a strong supporter of Hinsdale activities. She loved doing yard
work, and was a past caretaker of Hillview Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Arthur of Hinsdale; 1
son: Jerry and his wife Gwyn Arnold of Hinsdale; 1 daughter: Amber and
her husband Kenny Sherman of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; her Foster Dad:
Logan Hurlburt of Great Falls; 3 grandchildren: Kelcey Arnold and Tori
Arnold of Hinsdale and Ashley Sherman of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Clark A. Lacock

Clark A. Lacock, 39, of Hinsdale, died of cancer on
March 3rd at the Billings Deaconess Hospital. Services will be Friday,
March 8th at 2 p.m. at the Hinsdale High School gymnasium, with Reverend
Chris Flohr officiating. Burial will be in the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale.
Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Clark A. Lacock, age 39, of Hinsdale, entered into the
peaceful kingdom of Heaven on Sunday, March 3, 2002, following a lengthy
battle with cancer. Clark left this world with his loving family at his
side, and left on his own terms after fighting a battle fraught with ups
and downs but always fought with dignity and valor from start to finish.

Clark was born in 1962 in Glasgow to Sherman and DuAnn
Tooky (Miller) Lacock of Hinsdale. He attended schools in
Hinsdale and graduated in 1983 from Northern Montana College in Havre,
with a degree in diesel mechanics. He worked for area farmers, ranchers
and custom combiners, as well as at the family ranch north of Hinsdale,
and at the time of his death, was a partner in that ranch with his father
and brother.

In 1997 he married Mary C. Clifton in Glasgow and they
enjoyed many happy times together. Clark was able to enjoy many activities
during his abbreviated time on earth. He was an avid hunter and fisherman,
enjoyed woodworking and metalworking, sporting events, darts, cards, fantasy
football, gardening, auction sales, friends and neighbors, and riding
his two-wheeled horse with a clutch. He was an avid birdwatcher throughout
his life. Later in life he was able to share special hunting and fishing
expeditions and childhood games with a niece and nephew who were dear
to his heart. Clark made it clear before his death that he intends to
further pursue these activities in Heaven.

Survivors include his loving wife Mary C. Lacock; his
parents: Shermand and Tooky Lacock; 1 brother: Lyle Lacock and his wife
Linda; a niece: Leann; and a nephew: Levi, all of Hinsdale; a grandfather:
Erwin Bud Miller; a niece, Misty, and Marys son, Chris Britsch,
all of Glasgow.

Rudolph Oliver Archdale

Rudolph Oliver Archdale of Wolf Point died on March
1st at the Deaconess Hospital in Billings. A wake was held Sunday, March
3rd. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 4th at the Frazer
High School with interment in the Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery. Clayton
memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Oliver was born in 1956 to Ed and Evaline (Dawson) Archdale
in Poplar, Montana. After his mother's death, he was adopted by Wilma
Thompson of the Carry the Kettle, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was raised
and attended grade school in Valier, Montana, where he lived most of his
life. He attended the University of Montana in Missoula. After graduation,
Oliver began living the traditional Assiniboine life and he helped all
people in many ways. Oliver taught at Carry the Kettle College in Saskatchewan,
teaching the Assiniboine language. He was currently teaching the Assiniboine
language at Wolf Point Junior/Senior High School.

Oliver was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers:
Ivan Archdale, Donovan Shields, Milton Four Star, John Archdale and Sheldon
Archdale; 2 sisters: Leta (Four Star) Fire Moon and Florence Four Star.

Survivors include 2 sisters: Joan (and her husband Dennis)
Four Star Blount of Frazer; Julia (and her husband Marco) Archdale Cuffaro
of Page, Arizona; 2 brothers: Kenny (and his wife Sylvia) Ryan of Washington,
D.C.; Robert and his wife Judy Four Star of Wolf Point; numerous nieces
and nephews, grandchildren and many adopted brothers and sisters.

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